Acts 1:1-3 (ESV) "In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God."
Jesus appeared for 40 days after the resurrection and we have at least 10 sightings of Jesus after He rose.
5 sightings on the day of the Resurrection
1. To Mary Magdalene (early Sunday morning) John 20:11-18 (ESV) "But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.' Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping: Whom are you seeking?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.' Jesus said to her 'Mary' She turned and said to him in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord' -and that he had said these things to her."
2.Several other women (Sunday morning) Matt. 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 Mary , mother of James and John, Joanna and others.
3. Cleopas and companion on the road to Emmaus Luke 24
4. Peter sometime on Sunday Luke 24:34 (ESV) "saying, 'The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"
5. 10 disciples (minus Judas and Thomas) Sunday evening. Others were also there. Luke 24:33-38 "And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, 'The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!' Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, 'Peace to you!' But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?'"
5 sightings after the 1st day
1. The 10 disciples plus Thomas (a week later) John 20:24-28 (ESV) "Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.' Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!'"
2. 7 disciples at the Sea of Tiberius (Sea of Galilee) John 21:1-14 (ESV) "After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going fishing.' They said to him, 'We will go with you.' They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, 'Children, do you have any fish?' They answered him, 'No.' He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.' So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.' So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' Now none of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead."
3. A large gathering at a mountain in Galilee (about 500 people)
4. James (1/2 brother of Jesus) and later Paul
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (ESV) " For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me."
5. The disciples on the Mt. of Olives (near Bethany) Luke 24:50-51 (ESV) "And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God." (also found in Matt. 28 and Acts 1)
He appeared to different people, places, times, situations and circumstances over a period of 40 days. Is that all of the appearances? Acts 1:3 (ESV) "He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God."
1. Many convincing proofs
2. He taught about the Kingdom
John 20:30 (ESV) "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;"
John 21:25 (ESV) "Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."
Not all miracles and appearances were recorded maybe because they believed that He would be returning soon.
What if Jesus NEVER shown Himself after the resurrection?
1. How would we know that He arose? How would we know that He was the Christ?
2. Where would the church and Christianity be today?
The post resurrection appearances tells us 2 things
1. HE WAS ALIVE, not still alive, but ALIVE AGAIN! He died, He overcame death. He proves this to us during the 40 days.
2. Greater than merely alive. He was Alive in a glorified, external body. It was His body, but it was glorified.
Described that state
The disciples didn't always recognize Him immediately. He appeared and disappeared at will.
1. He appeared visibly
2. He conversed audibly
3. He had the disciples "touch/feel" Him
4. He ate with them
5. He still bore the scars of crucifixion
Glorified is a term to describe magnificent/awesome. So this resurrected body is much improved and eternally improved. Rev. 1: 17-18 (ESV) "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me saying, 'Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades."
1. He overcame DEATH!
2. He was much IMPROVED after DEATH!
So we have a champion who defeated death and Satan and rose GLORIFIED! But a champion who is a model/example for us! 1 Cor. 15:20-26 (ESV) "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then coes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death."
Jesus was the first fruit and He rose on the Jewish holy day of First fruits. First fruits is one of the 7 Jewish holidays. Lev. 23:10 (ESV) "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest," This was a celebration of the harvest to come. WE are the harvest to come!
1. Jesus defeated death for Himself.
2. He defeated death for US also! 1 Cor. 15:54-55 (ESV) "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?'
Rev. 20:14-15 (ESV) "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
3. Christians need not fear death. You might fear the event/process of dying vs the state of death.
4. Death is going to IMPROVE us also!! 1 John 3:2 (ESV) "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."
Romans 8:16-17 (ESV) "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."
What will it be like? It is a great mystery. 1 Cor. 15: 35-38, 42-44, 49-55 (ESV) "But someone will ask, 'How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come? You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body." "So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." "Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?'"
We wont look like what is planted. We are in Adam's image now, we will be in Christ's image in Heaven.
The Question: Is there a difference between death and general resurrection?
The Answer: We are alive, conscious, in a place of great comfort, contentment and joy.
Paul said "absent from the body = present with the Lord" 2 Cor. 5:4-9 (ESV) "For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened-not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him."
The thief of the cross "This day you will be with me in paradise"
Martyrs in Heaven "how long O Lord?" Rev. 6:9-11 (ESV) "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, 'O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?' Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been."
"Imagine Heaven" is a book written about Near Death Experiences. It is not the bible but it gives inspiring accounts from people who are from different backgrounds, religions and denominations.
In Conclusion
1. Jesus died
2. For our sins/forgiveness so that we could be reconciled to God
3. He AROSE (resurrected just as He said He would be)
4. He arose victorious over death for Himself and for US!
5. He offered "many convincing proofs" of that
6. Now He adds to those testimonies...the TESTIMONY of the Holy Spirit
7. And He offers us (you) the SAME VICTORY, the same IMPROVEMENTS, the same ETERNAL STATE.
Do you want some of that? It is available to you by...
1. Recognizing Him as Lord and Savior
2. TRUSTING Him as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior (verbal prayer, declaration, public declaration, baptism)
Pre Christian Heb. 7:23-25 (ESV) "The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." He forever lives to intercede... He is praying for you, but it is your choice
Christians Heb.4: 14-16 (ESV) "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." We can approach the throne of grace with confidence that He will understand.
The 40 days after the resurrection were not for Christ, but for us, so that we would have the confidence to approach the throne.
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